CRAVEN councillors kept a minute's silence for the victims of Monday's terrorist attack in Manchester.
The bombing at a concert at Manchester Arena overshadowed Craven District Council's annual meeting the next day.
At the meeting, Cllr Stephen Place was unanimously elected as chairman, and Cllr Wendy Hull as vice-chairman.
Outgoing chairman Cllr Chris Moorby read out a letter he had written to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, and said: "We will not give into these people that commit these terrible atrocities. These people are hell-bent on destroying our lives, not just in England, but all over the world."
Cllr Place, who represents the Sutton in Craven ward, said: "Today should have been a very happy and joyous occasion but it has been spoilt by the happenings in Manchester.
"What really brought it home to me was to hear that an eight-year-old girl was one of the victims. I look at my grandchildren and think, it could have been them."
Cllr Place hopes to raise awareness of climate change during his year in office.
New vice-chairman Cllr Wendy Hull is also to become Craven's older people’s champion.
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